Celtics stand in way of LeBron James’ eighth straight NBA Finals trip

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — LeBron James will open his eighth straight Eastern Conference finals Sunday with banners hanging above him at TD Garden honoring four Boston Celtics legends who are the only players to appear in more consecutive NBA Finals than the Cleveland Cavaliers star.

Four wins against the Celtics will earn James his eighth straight Finals trip, tying him with Boston’s Frank Ramsey for the third longest streak in league history and putting him only behind Celtics greats Tom Heinsohn and Sam Jones (nine straight) and Bill Russell (10).

“I haven’t reflected on it,” James said Friday when asked if he’s looked back on his current Finals run. “But I do know that this is my eighth straight conference finals, and I have an opportunity to play for a championship if I’m able to be successful in this conference finals, so I don’t take that for granted. You dream about being able to play in big games in the NBA, and even when I got to the NBA that was one of my only